Atlantis to replace Camelot on the BBC

CB Droege, 17th February 2013

BBC One has announced the development of a new fantasy serial set in the legendary sunken city.

We’re in the last season of Merlin here in the states, but it’s been done for a few months already over in the UK, so many have been wondering what show the public-owned network might take on next to fill the audience’s clear desire for more fantasy story-telling.

We now have that answer as the BBC has announced production of Atlantis, which will fill the role and timeslot vacated by the departing Merlin. Being produced in the same US-friendly format of 13 45-minute episodes per season, the new show will take place in the Classical Era, and will feature elements of the mythologies of that era; like Merlin, but much further back in history.

The story will follow the adventures of Jason, a young man from Greece, who find himself in the underwater city, and gets in to the kind of trouble you would expect, fighting monsters and falling in love, etc.

According to the BBC:

The city of Atlantis is a mysterious, ancient place; a world of bull leaping, of snake haired goddesses and of palaces so vast it was said they were built by giants. It's into this strange, compelling realm that the young Jason arrives and an amazing adventure begins, bringing to life the vast store of Greek myths and legends re-imagined for a new generation.

Of course, it’s a family show, so we’ll surely be getting a bunch of the adventure and romance of the Classical Era myths without all the sacrifices, god-rape, baby-murder, and what-not that goes on in those stories.

The show was created by Merlin co-creators Julian Murphy and Johnny Capp, and is being written by Howard Overman, a writer for Merlin, and the creator of Misfits. No other names are yet attached, but we should start hearing about casting soon, as the team wants to begin production in April of this year.

Atlantis is planned to fill the afternoon slot previously held by Merlin on BBC One as of this Fall. Plans for a US release have not yet been announced, and may not be until its seen if the show is popular with UK viewers.